Tree shaker



Aug. 20, 1963 M. E. PHELPS TREE SHAKER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 31, 1961 INVENTQR, Mom-0N E. PHELDS %%maz/M/nzaoz #gan/Mon ATTORNEYS M. E. PHELPS Aug. 20, 1963 TREE SHAKER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 3l, 1961 INVENTOR. Mom-cm E. PHE L Ps fQM/z AT TO R N EYS m .www

Aug20,1963 MEPHELPS 3,100,959

TREE SHAKER Filed March 31, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 I9 lsQ IN VENTOR.

S n Moe-roh: E. PHE LDS ATTORNEYS tionof the' system of l 4i a sectional y im@ u This invention relatesl to implements for shaking nut treesand the like to harvest the crop, and isparticularly concerned with the general type of device having va lboom carried by a powered vehicle end havingiia tree-engaging`v i head, together with means to rapidly1 ,reciprocate the head in aline genenally transverse to the' tree height. `)Devices ofthi's nature'hav'e been invariably attendedV withdiilicultiesarising from the rigidity, or lack oi"` resilience, in the structure, and the' further fact that reciprocation` of the head has beenilimited to motion in a line parallel tothe longitudinal extent ofthe boom. Since the boom is inclined, thisresults in damage, either to the tree or the machinery. Another drawback in the prior art, where the boom las a whole is moved inthe shaking operation has been the necessity of providing slack in the boom cable prior to the shaking. Also, prior devices have involved much loss of time and effort Idue to the need for starting land stopping `the shaking mechanism.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a 3,100,959 Patented Aug. 20, 1963 ice FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 8 8 of FIGURE 7,` and FIGURE 9 is asectional View of a detail, as lseen along the line 9--9 of FIGURE 4.

Referring to the drawings, by characters of reference, the system will be described, first with respect to the environmental structure comprising the tractonpower plant, and boom, followed by la description of the novelshaker head and its relation to the other parts. The tractor,` injthernain, isiconventional, andistherefore simply designated, in general, bythe single reference numeral, ylt?. The boom system is carriedby a mounting support locatedforwardly of the tractor, and comprising a sturdy, rectangular frame, of channel members, indicated `as a whole :by the numeralll, with a pair of uprights 12, 14, anda top, cross piece 1o, welded thereto, the uprights being supportedv on, and bolted to a pair4 of channel members, i8, Zlybolted` to the sides of the tractor frame, 'and extending somewhat forwardly of theV front of the tractor. The' boom, which is extensible in construction, has a dual, tubular, rea-r unit, with a pair of arms comprisingparallel, terminal sections 22, 24, which are mounted, `for free swinging movement in elevation, about a countershaft Z6, journaled in a pair of bracket plates 28, 30, secured to theinner faces of the respective upi rights l2, 14, and `extending forwardly therefrom. The

shaker capable of imparting shaking force to a tree along Y a substantially horizontal line.

of sway. -Another Objectis 'to isolate the shaker system from wthe boom proper so that/the tensions-and the ar` Y rangement of parts in the latter remain unatleced and i neednotube modied.Y `Blfetzanother object is to obtain properly directed forces by means of a exible, offset A A further'and related V object is `to maintain a substantially constant `direction a ofthe force against the tree throughout its amplitude shaker head, while maintaining reaction thrusts vin a line t alongthe axis of the boom. It is also. anobject to providela shaker. system which `is` activated "autmaticallyj by `contact with `a tree, thusreliminatingoperational steps; 'I'hewforegoing and' otherobjectsfar attained bythe device of the present invention, which maybe briefly` charf l i acterized iasicompr'ising a swingable boom, mounted Von t a suitable vehicle, and -liervingfv a shaker headmmounted on p a trapezoidal linkage, theV latter having @Il Operatingvlever arrnconnected to a reciprocating dewicepowered -frorn` L thevehicle, the connecting systemfliaving a lost-motion -and a vresilient takenp whereby the reciprocatingmotion idled when the'shker-he'ad is free, but is communicated to the `head,when,thelatter is forcedagainstgartree;

For amore detailed desctiption Vof* the invernion,,refer-` 1 ence is made to thefollowing specication,` as ustrated `inthedrawings,in which: f

FIGURE l, isla" sidegelevational view; of Ythe cofinplete `the latter comprises asingle arm in the form of a` tube 45 slidable along and between the terminalyparallel sections 42j, 44h31 virtu'efo-fits telescopic mounting in a slide tube,-comprising semi-cylindrical sections-` 46, 47, welded tengen-daily tothe inner sides ot tubes 4Z, 44 ,and having oppositely.` disposed pairs 4fof lears 4S, Slt receiving Iboltsf- 52, by means `ofwh-ich `the tube @5 isacl'amped.; the slidettube. Clamping at the rear end'ofthe slide tubez is ,also effected bya-set of fourholts 54,;cooperating a pair` of `angle irons 56 andeav similarvpairy58, Welded,` respectively, 1to the topsandthe bottoms of tubesx42, 144.

lfluie'` rearward lnolts, `,on the upperfsidezand "thel mider p side-salse yczlrryfa pair lof stnaps 59;` 601', anatta'ched, rectangular plate1-61, whiclr` serves "as an.. abutment i to 1 i receivel -thegnaingshocks `encountered 'axially` iof the `boom in`A the shaking process. In` a Vshortened adjnstrnent of the boom, the tubes45will=abut l@plate 62, welded to I a pair of-channelelements 16,4, 66 welded to :the upperv and lower sides'respectivelyof parallelgrtube'sz, 44.at therlevarends l {.there'of.` In orderl to make the; adjustment jto -tlliefshorter boom length?` it is ecessaryjto un'bollt .remove the l lthe cable 68 over a pulley has relieved theafricti'onal` pull-of 'be Stir, journaled in a bracket 82, lixed to top beam 16 of the mounting frame', and attaching the end of Vthe, cable to a lug S4 secured by one of the bolts 54'on the angle IironswSo in the region of the slide tube'of the boom. The lift thus has a mechanical advantage similar tothat of a block and tackle, besides lending support to the boom, at an intermediate portion, againstbending. v j Y 1 The drive of cable 68 to pulley 7l) is communicated freni va Winch'drum S56, keyed to a. shaft S3, journaled in uprights 12, 14m the `fupper part of mounting frame 11. *ShaiftrSSis driven, at slow rate, by'a chain 911 engaging allarge sprocketY wheel y92, keyed 4to the shaft 83, and

' which is driven by a .small sprocketrwheel 94, keyed to ane/intermediate, shaft'o, journaled a pair of brackets 9g,`1tl0,`secured to, and extending rforwardly ofiuprights 12, 14, respectively, intermediately of their height. A tensioningipulley 1112v for chain 9@ is journaled `in a bracket 104 carried by upright'12. Shaft 96 carriesa large pulley 106 which'isdrivcn by a belt 108, engaging a drive pulley 119 onmain countershaft 26. The drive to pulley 106 is controlled by a belt-tension- 'ing system, with a control leverage mounted von a shaft braked position without any lowering of the boom, the boom then being set in raised position by a rapid movement of rod 130 to its foremost limit of movement.

The shaker unit, or ram, of the boom, shown in enlarged detail in `FGURES 5 and 6, comprises a quadrilateral linkage, having a tubular movable arm, or thrust element 154 of rectangular cross section, and a similar tube 156 constituting a nxed arm, and welded to a plate 158 on the end of boom tube 42 where it is braced` by web plates 160, tube 156 constituting a reaction member, and being pivotally connected to the reap end of tube 154 by a'pair :of links 162with pivot bolts-164, and to an `intermediate part oftube 1.54 by `a pair of links 1165 with pivot rboltslo. Tube 1154 lthus extends for- 112, journaled in a pair of brackets 114, 116 ixedto, and

push-pull rod 130, with handle 132 located near the drivers seat, the `forward end of the Lcontrol rod having a'clevis 134, pivotally attached to the lowerend of a'lever V@1136, m'edially pivoted to a bracket 133i carried by up- Y right '12,; andpivoted atyits upper end to a link 140, which is vvinturnlpivoted to the inputlever arm 128 of the -tensi'oning device. It will be seen that a pulling action on thefcontrol rod 130 willV result in forward movement of the input lever 128, rotating tube 1272 in a sense to bring pulley l118V into engagement with belt 108i, thus taking n upthe slack in the belt, andimparting the motion of the pulley 110 ofthe countershaft thereto, and communicating'rotation to' pulley'106, and the rest of the system Vto draw in the cablejand raise the boom. vIn order to render Y 4'n lnfeautepthej'tensionirig force on belt `103, and alsoto v Uservefasraguide for this beltflto insure engagement by pulley 1,1'8,-.thereis provided-an idler pulley 141,jour- {fnaled on a`bracket`142,which is xed to upright 12.'A

f ,Lowering-of'theboom is achieved ,by its own Weight, a

activated. "Thusgthere-'is-valso keyed togintermediat'e* shaft @96` pulley 143 which functions' as a brake drum, being,

providedwithabelhfj or brakeband, 14'4, one end of which is anchoredto a1 bracket%146, secured by a bolt wardly of pivotMand'links 166, andis provided with aifrusto-cylindrical rammerhead 170 -for engaging the tree to 4be shakenpwhich head is covered with a resilient pad 172 to minimize shock tothe machineryras welles damage to the -tree; lt will be noted that the' spacingof the rearpivots 164is greater than that ofA -forward pivots V163, Vto compensate for the average elevational angleof the boom in use and render the thrust link 154 substantially parallel with the horizontal. The quadrilateral link-age is adapted to Vmaintain this eneral orientation, whileA the swinging movement of rammer link 154 as a whole, and the trapezoidal arrangement of the pivot axes, both conspire to impart an arcuate movement to the rammer head 170, as shown by the broken line, adjusted position in FIGURE 6, which makes'possible, contact of the rammer head with the tree throughout the amplitude of swing of the tree, Without sensible displacement of the head along the tree transverse to the line of thrust. It is possibl-e,'of course, that some small departures from this optimum conditionrof steady contact mayY be encountered, as Iiorjinstance where unusual angles ofelevation of the boom' areV employed. However, the effect will still be of such suiiiciently small magnitude `as tobe canceled out by the yeildingjeffec't due to shearing strains inthe resilient pad 172.

" sV applied `at a point below the reaction member 1156.

'brake nitpbeingprvide'd :in the drive system to hold'the' d l l boomlnfworking position when the tension clutch -is-in- Pflfsmg Pllallel'bars PVOCd at their UPPEI @11rd 0117?- PinV 192 carried at the Iouter end'sfof a pair of parallel plates 14.8710 the tractor bodyand the other'fend vof which is anchored' to a pinl50 carried by' a parallel; plate lever inmersa-fixed @sleeve-122;; if 1f will 'be seen that withvo'peratiijg'grocl: withlfawn toy the extremerearward position,

Vlever`5 152,i1'1 itsifcounterldckwise movement (FIGURE-4)`V` leefbare band;

Thug-.link .166 extends below said member, and carries,

nearits lower zendfarpivot 174 journaling a link 176 having anyouter pm 178, to. whichV is anchored the'loopedend 181) ofQa tension cable1k182, which is reciprocable, in a d I guide tube 184, carried by a series of saddles186 clamped onfboomtube 45, andftwo brackets, 18S-suspended .from

thelifunderside' of thei'tubes 42,144intheir rearward portion, the rearm'ost bracket also carrying a guide ypulley 189. The cable 182 leadsvto an operaftingY lever 190 com- A194,'1ixed1rto the rear face: offabutinent plate V462fand to cross channel 64, 'Ihe cable 182 sdsevcured tofrlever',` 190 (FIGUREft) ithrough a tension Vadjusting means comprisingarectangular cage i196's1idably mountedl on block `198 which.v journals a pin 200 carried between the Y arrnsbf lever 719.70 at a point near the lower ends thereof.

Avrscrew202 threadedly-carriedinione end face of cage g `1261s adapted to,V contactbearing block 198, to adjustth'e position-,of the cage withvrespect thereto, and f the cable Vbyfabracket208 onthe frwardpend. fof-g the cag,e.-`A

jtensiopgcoilspring 210,"anchored'to bracket 28'Vofrf'the 'Y vfrane-11,1.ulrqiigh a cnarn 21ans-faunawet its-"inward engi nu alpin .214, ar'riediby the .praias or iver11-19iin" a bearing ordeihounting.

:arcanes r 5 The reciprocating movement for shaking theA tree may be broadly described Ias involving a pitman type connection to the lever 190 which has a 4lost motion arrangement wherein the periodic thrusts are only communicated to theshaker system linkage after the rammer head has been moved rearwardly for a given distance, `against the bias of the spring 210. Lever 190 is of the third class type, that is, with a pivot pin 2416, which receives the applied force, located intermediate the fulcrum pin and the output pin Ztlil. Thus, there is journaled on p-in 216 a bushing 218 carried on tone end of a slide tube` 220, in which is sl'idably mounted the enlarged, ball-shaped, outer end 222 of a pitman, or connecting rod 224, the rear end of the tube beingA crimped as -at 226 tof retain the ball and` thus to communicate a pulling action to'thejtube,` and hence lever y'190, on rearward movement of fthe pitmarn whenever the tube is in `a forward position. Obviously, when the`tube is in a rearward position, the ball" 2.22 will merely slide in the tube without communicating movement thereto. l l

The oscillating movement of the pitman is caused by an eccentric portion 22S on the main countershaft 26 operating after the manner of a crankshaft. The pitman is mounted on the eccentric through an enlarged, bifurcated head 230 on'its rear end, which is Islid onto the eccentric and secured by screws '232 to the respective parts of a split bearing block 234 which serves as a journal for the pitman.

`cable and drive means on said frame, including a winch t on the frame, operatively connected to said cable, la clutch In operation, assuming the boom to be adjusted to proper length, handle 132 is actuated, if need be, to raise or lower the boom to suitable elevation to comport with the height and girth, or the location of the branches, of the tree to b'e shaken. Before, during and after each shaking operation, the main drive belt 34..may continue running, since the boom lift drive merely idles unless the clutch is set, and thepitmanrconnection is also idle unless the shaker ram has been driven back by Contact with an obstacle. For the `shakingoperation, therefore, `it is merely necessary to guide the systeminto Contact `with a tree.V `Forward progressief the boom is continued after such contact Vis made, with the `result that rammer link i 154 lags behind lwhile the lower link yld `continues for- `Ward witlrtheboom, resulting in a` forward `swing of the lower end of front link Maitland a` forward movement of cable 182. This results-in forward movement of lever 190, att the rear `-end ofy thecable, agm'nst `the tension of spring 210. During thism'ovement the `reaction stresses inthe system are minor, sincetthey depend only on the resistance of the"`spring. "However, after tube 22d ligas taken up the lost motion"V and contactedl the ball on the forward tend of'thepitman, the systembecomes rigid, and the thrust on the tree is, in effect, a direct thrust by the l boom. Due to the location of pivot17l` on` an opposite side of the boom from pivot 16S, theqresultant reaction is substantially lalong the line of .the boom; YThe shaking action will be dependent upon how far the tractor is permitted to` advance after take-up of thelost motion. Preferably, this will be at a stage where the pitman 4just makes ing `continued oscillationof the pitman, the proper degree,

of engagement is `easily determined by sensing, coupled :ziwith -actual observationofthe treeirnovement and the'fall of the nuts, rapidandfminutej adjustments being possible to achieve. optimum shaking. p t i. t.- Y

Forl readier mountingfgof the pitmarlgzlhe shaft Zdmay b eirnadeintwo parts, inv which case thef'eccntricMZZ'will beon the, freeend of onepfthdpart asily, introd need' betweeii th A' haft operatively connected to said winch, and a brake oper-V atively connected -to said winch andoperable at the off positicnoi said clutch, and idle at the onposition land an intermediate position of said clutch, an oscillating ram on the forwardend' of said single arm, comprising a quadrilateral [linkage yhaving `a lixed arm secured to said` single `arm,'forwardly thereof and in the general plane of 4said boom, a movable arm having a tree-engagingfhead, a pair of links of unequal `effective lengths pivotally connecting said movable arm to said iived arm, one of :said links having an extension on the side of said fixed arm Vopposite from said movable arm, a cable connected to said externsion, a lever pivoted on said boom and engaging said cable,lspring means urging said lever 'rearwardly,said drive means including an eccentric, and means, including a lost motionfcoupling, connecting :said eccentric `to said lever. Y t

2. A `tree shaker comprising a mounting frame, a boom svvingably mounted on -a lhorizontal axis on said frame, and including a lift cable, `drive means for said cable on said frame including a clutch, and a brake dor said cable Y operable -at the off position of said Vclutch,andidle at the on position as well as an intermediate position 'of said Aclutch, la `reciprocating .raml carried forwardly of said boom, comprising a quadrilateral linkage having Va fixed arm securedjto said boom forwardly -thereof,- a` moviable arm having a tree-engaging Aram head, a pair ci linksof unequal effective lengths pivotally connecting'said y ymovable arm to Asaid iixetd arm, one'of said having-ian extension of `on the` side of said xed ann opposite from said movable arm, aca-ble connected tosaid extension, a

lever pivoted on said boom and engaging said cable, spring l means urginfT said lever rearwardly, `said drive means including a crank arm, and means, includinga lost motion coupling, connecting saidcrank arm to said lever. V

3. A tree shakerlcompiising a mounting fralme, a` boom '"swingablytfmounted Ifori"elevational" adjustment on `said flrarnepdrive rneansi'ncluding la lift cablefor raising said boom, a reciprocating ram carried forwardly "of said boom, f

fixed arm, oneri-of said links having an extension on the `side Vci said xed arm opposite from said movable farm,

a `cable connected to vsaid extension, a lever pivoted on saidboom and engaging said cable, spring'rneans urging said lever rearwardly, said drive means including a crank y arm, and means, including a lost motionjcoupling, connectf ,"ingnsaid` crank -arm to said lever.V

4. IA tree shaker comprising amounting `frame,\a boom lswingably mounted for `elevational adjustment `on said frame, reciprocatingram carried forward of said boom,

- 7 meansQin'cluding a` lost motion coupling'connecting said crank larm to said'lever.

5. A tree shaker comprising la mounting frame, a boom swingably mounted for elevational adjustment on said iframe, a reciprocating ram carried forwardly of said boom,

- comprising la quadrilatenal linkage having a iixed arm Vcarried by said boom, a movable farm having a ram head, a pair of links pivotally connecting said movable arm to said fixed arm, one of said links having an extension on the side of s aid fixed arm opposite from said movable arm, -a cable `connected to said extension, a lever pivoted on said `boom and engaging said cable, spring means urging said lever rearwardly, drive means, including a crank arm', on said frame, 'and means including fa lost mot1on coupling, connecting. said crank arm to said leven 6. A tree shaker comprising a mounting frame, a boom swingably mounted on said'frame, a reciprocating ramV carried forwardly of said boom, comprising a quadrllateral linkage having a iixed arm carried by said boom, a movable arm y'having a ram'ihead, a pair of llinks pivotallyconnecting said movable arm' to said fixed arm, one of said links having an extension on Vthe side of said fixed arm opposite vfrom said movable arm, a cable connected to said extension, a lever pivoted on said boom and engaging Y saidcalble, spring means urging said lever rearwardly, a

motion 'connectionbetween said element and said lever,`

and coupding means communicating rearward movement ofv said lever to orward movement of said movable arm. 8. A tree shakercomprising a mounting iframe, a boom Y"swin'gably mounted on said frame, alongitudinally reciprocatingram carried on said boom forwardly thereof,

4 Ispring means acting between said ram and a fixed portion yofrsaid shaker, and urging said ram forwardly, a lever pivoted. on said boom, -a reciprocating element carried by v said frame, alost motionconnection between said element and said'lever, and coupling means secured to said .lever yand said ram, and communicating Vrearward movement Iofsaid lever to forward'movement of said ram.

- 9. j A tree shaker lcomprising va mounting frame, a boom swingablymountedlon said frame,k a iongitudinally recip,-`

rocatingjram carried on said boom forwardly thereof,

of said shaker, and urging said ram forwardly, va reciprocating element carried tby said Iframe, and a lost motion connection between said reciprocating element and said ram.

l0. A tree shaker comprising a mounting frame, a boom swingably mounted on said frame, a ram unit carried by said boom, forwardly thereof and comprising a quadrilateral linkage having one side fixed with respect to the boom, and an opposite side mountedor swinging movement between la forward position and a rearward position, springmeans acting fbetween said opposite side 'and a fixed portion of' said shaker, and urging Said oppo site side to a forward osition, a reciprocating element carried by said frameyiand means inclu-ding `alost motion coupling kconnecting-said element tothe saidoppositeside -1 of said `tlinkage.

11. ftree shaker comprising Aa mounting @a Iboom swingably mounted on said Iframe, aram unit carried by said Iboom, forwardly thereof and comprisinga trapezoidal linkage having one side fixed withrespect to said boom, and an opposite side arranged for swinging movement ibetween a tforward position and a rearward position, spring means acting between said opposite side yand a fixed portion of said shaker urging said opposite side to a forward position, a reciprocating element carried Iby said iframe, and nieana'including a iost motion coupling connecting said element to the said opposite side of said linkage.

l2. For use as a tree shaking device or lthe like, in combination, a bloom, fand a rammer head'carried onsaid boom forwardly thereof, offset from the line of thrust of said boom and'` swingably mounted yon `an taxis yadjacent said line, and means yon the opposite side ofsaid -linefrom said head -for communicating a force moment to swing said head, whereby thrust reaction stresses are absorbed lalong said ne. i

13. A device as in claim 12,1said means including alost Y motion coupling.- l

14. A- device as in claim 12, said means including a lost motion coupling, and springV means normally Vurging said coupling to slackcondition.'Y

kspring means acting between said ram and a fixed portion i 15, A Vdevice as in claim 12, a quadrilateral vlinkage connecting said head to said' boom, said means including a lost motion coupling, and sp 2,159,311 Berger May"23,1939 2,685,775 Gould et a1. 1 Aug-1o, 1954l ring meansl'normally urging 

1. A TREE SHAKER COMPRISING A MOUNTING FRAME, A BOOM HAVING A PAIR OF ARMS SWINGABLY MOUNTED ON A HORIZONTAL AXIS ON SAID FRAME, AND A SINGLE ARM ADJUSTABLY POSITIONABLE LENGTHWISE OF SAID BOOM, SAID BOOM HAVING A LIFT CABLE AND DRIVE MEANS ON SAID FRAME, INCLUDING A WINCH ON THE FRAME, OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID CABLE, A CLUTCH OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID WINCH, A BRAKE OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID WINCH AND OPERABLE AT THE OFF POSITION OF SAID CLUTCH, AND IDLE AT THE ON POSITION AND AN INTERMEDIATE POSITION OF SAID CLUTCH, AN OSCILLATING RAM ON THE FORWARD END OF SAID SINGLE ARM, COMPRISING A QUADRILATERAL LINKAGE HAVING A FIXED ARM SECURED TO SAID SINGLE ARM, FORWARDLY THEREOF AND IN THE GENERAL PLANE OF SAID BOOM, A MOVABLE ARM HAVING A TREE-ENGAGING HEAD, A PAIR OF LINKS OF UNEQUAL EFFECTIVE LENGTHS PIVOTALLY CONNECTING SAID MOVABLE ARM TO SAID FIXED ARM, ONE OF SAID LINKS HAVING AN EXTENSION ON THE SIDE OF SAID FIXED ARM OPPOSITE FROM SAID MOVABLE ARM, A CABLE CONNECTED TO SAID EXTENSION, A LEVER PIVOTED ON SAID BOOM AND ENGAGING SAID CABLE, SPRING MEANS URGING SAID LEVER REARWARDLY, SAID DRIVE MEANS INCLUDING AN ECCENTRIC, AND MEANS, INCLUDING A LOST MOTION COUPLING, CONNECTING SAID ECCENTRIC TO SAID LEVER. 